Other tips to help this work:

1) Quit writing while you still know what's next. 2) Once you have a set time and word count- don't change it- ever! 3) If you plot on paper you''re way ahead. All you need to do is review that paper once or twice a day outside your usual writing time. Just let it sink in and your brain will do rest.

Creativity is a human trait for a reason. It is intended to help us find solutions for challanges we face. If you give your brain a challange and stick to it, creativity will come smoother and easier than you ever thought possible.

-Jeff Heisler

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeff Heisler is a freelance writer and editor of Write Away. Read more of Jeff's writing articles at http://www.heislerink.com/writeaway.asp. You may also write to Jeff at jheisler@heislerink.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------

lost in long lines of dialogue. This technique helps

readers keep their place.

4) Leave exposition out of dialogue.

--------------------------------------

"Come on in car," Frank said. Sam hopped in. Frank started down road. "This car is

great," he said. "It has a 255 horsepower engine,

sunroof, and a great stero system."

--------------------------------------

Let's try this instead.

---------------------------------------

"Hop in," Frank said. Sam hopped in and sank back into passanger

seat. Frank turned on radio and opened sunroof

before they started off down road. The engine

roared and pushed Sam back in his seat. He smiled at

Frank. "Nice car."

---------------------------------------

5) Compress dialogue that contains needless or

repetitive details. For example, let's say a character who we'll

call John has just been told an amazing story by another

character named Mike. Now John needs to share that

story with Betty. Instead of repeating dialague

reader has already heard, just do something like this:

--------------------------------------

"Wait till you hear this," John said. He told

Betty whole story. "Wow," said Betty.

--------------------------------------

There, now you're ready to move on with

story.

6) Use dialect sparingly. It's too taxing on

the reader's mind. If you have a character from Texas

with a thick southern accent, instead of this:

------------------------------------

"Y'all ain't see nothin' like dis here messa

trouble."

------------------------------------

Use this: -----------------------------------

Kip spoke in his thick Texas drawl, "You all ain't seen

nothing like this here mess of trouble."

----------------------------------

That's it. Use those rules and your dialogue will show

that professional style you've been looking for. Good

luck.

--------------------------------------------------------

------------------ Jeff Heisler is a freelance writer and editor of Write

Away. Read more of Jeff's writing articles at

http://www.heislerink.com/writeaway.asp. You may also write to Jeff at jheisler@heislerink.com --------------------------------------------------------

------------------

Jeff Heisler is a freelance writer and editor of Write

Away. Read more of Jeff's writing articles at